Boots, shoes and like articles of footwear



Sept. 18, 3956 c. H. K. NAPIER BOOTS, SHOES AND LIKE ARTICLES 0FFOOTWEAR Filed Sept. 18, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY c. H. K. NAPIER2,763,71

BOOTS, sHoEs AND LIKE ARTICLES 0F FOOTWEAR Filed Sept. 1a, 1955 4Sheets-Sheet 2 wvmvron /v HASTINGS KINGSLEYNAPIER ATTORNEY Sept. 18,1956 c; H. K. NAPIER 2,763,071

BOOTS, SHOES AND LIKE ARTICLES OF FOOTWEAR Filed Sept. 18, 1953 4Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Cu v5 HA sn/yas K/NGSLEYNA PIE/Z ATTORNEY Sept.18, 1956 c. H. K. NAPIER BOOTS, SHOES AND LIKE ARTICLES 0F FOOTWEARFiled Sept. 18, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR C L /V5 HASTINGS KIA/65L5) NA PIER ATTORNEY aired BOOTS, SHOES AND LIKE ARTICLES OF FOOTWEARClaims priority, application Great Britain September 25, 1952 7 Claims.(Cl. 36-85) The present invention relates to shoes particularly sportsshoes, for example, skating boots.

Ice skating boots must fit closely around the heel immediately below theankle. It has been proposed to incorporate, in the upper, pad-likesupports situated on opposite sides of the foot immediately beneath theankle for the purpose of ensuring a close fit of the boot at that pointand providing efiicient support. Such boots are expensive to manufactureas they have to be specially made and fitted. The supporting pads ifmade of steel are comparatively rigid and so likely to fit either tootightly or too loosely. If of leather or synthetic material havingsimilar properties they are often affected by the combination of heat,perspiration and pressure.

The invention comprises two pad-like supports for application to orincorporated into the shoe article of footwear. These pads are intendedto lie on opposite sides of the foot and provide supports in thevicinity of the ankle. Means is provided for drawing said pads into firmindirect engagement with the foot to provide efiicient support.

The supports should not project from the surface of the boot to anextent which might cause the wearer to trip when skating or should be asunobtrusive as possible, in the form of an external fitting.

Preferably, therefore, the pads should be actually incorporated into theboot to lie within the upper with the adjusting external so as to beaccessible for adjustment. In that way adjustments can be easily madewhen the boot is being worn. The boot need differ only slightly inappearance from a boot of normal construction. The support can easily beincorporated into a boot during manufacture or may easily be applied toan existing boot.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readilycarried out the invention is hereinafter described With reference to theaccompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a skating boot fitted with one form ofsupport in accordance with the invention, the boot being broken away toillustrate the support in greater detail;

Figure 2 is a section on the line AB in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the support removed;

Figure 4 is a section on the line CD in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a section on the line EF in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a similar view to Figure l but illustrating an alternativeconstruction;

Figure 7 is a section on the line G-H in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is an enlarged section of the construction shown in Figures 6and 7;

Figures 9 and 10 illustrate diagrammatically the operation of one of theblades in the construction shown in Figures 6 to 8;

Figure 11 illustrates a further alternative construction;

Figure 12 is a section on the line I--] in Figure 11. V

In the construction illustrated by Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanyingdrawings the suport is shown built into an ice skating boot. The supportincludes two metal bladetates Fatent O i 2,763,071 Patented Sept. 18,1956 ice like members 1 carrying rubber or like pads 2 at their innerfaces. The parts 1 and 2 are introduced between the upper 3 and aleather or other stiffener 4 lying adjacent the lining 5.

As will be seen clearly from Figure 1 the blades and their associatedpads 2 are shaped so that they lie below the ankle and extend rearwardlyinto a position in which they lie partially around the heel. The blades1 at their forward ends projecting downwardly to a point where they areconnected with two plates 6 which are so mounted as to permit of theblades and their associated pads being moved angularly towards oneanother to grip the foot indirectly and give the necessary heel support.

In the arrangement shown two plates 7 are screwed to the under surfaceof the boot shank 8. The plates are slotted at 9 to receive crankedprojections 10 on the plates 6. The arrangement is such that the plates6 are permitted a limited amount of angular movement in a verticalplane.

The blades 1 are drilled at their lower ends to receive securing screws11 which pass through holes 12 in the plates 6 and through holes 13 inmetal brackets 14 which accommodate the blades at their lower ends. Theholes in the brackets 14 are tapped to receive the threaded parts of thesecuring screws 11. The securing screws 11, therefore, not only hold theplates 6 in position on the outside of the upper, but also connect theplates 6 in a rigid manner with the blades and their associated brackets14. The manor of connection is clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3.

The blades 1 and their associated pads 2 can thus be drawn inwardlytowards each other and angularly about the slots 9 in the plates 7. Themethod of angular adjustment is shown clearly in Figure 2. Each blade isformed with a hole 15 to accommodate the hooked end 16 of a tie rod 17.Each tie rod 17 passes through the boot lining and thence through thedownwardly inclined holes bored through the shank. The extremities ofthe tie rod 17 are screw-threaded to receive adjusting nuts 18 which liein countersunk recesses 19 in the under surface of the shank so as to beaccessible to a screw-driver or other suitable tool.

The left boot is illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 and as will be seenclearly from Figure 3 the inner blade 1 has associated with it two tierods whilst the outer blade 1 is associated with a single tie rod, thesingle tie rod passing between the pair of tie rods associated with theopposite blade. It is possible, therefore, with this arrangement tobring greater pressure to bear on the inner blade than the outer so thatthe foot can be more adequately supported on the inside than on theoutside.

It will be appreciated that the tie rods 17 move the forward parts ofthe two blades bodily inwards when the adjusting nuts are tightened andalthough this adjustment may be adequate it is preferred to provide afurther adjustment at the back of the heel. In the construction showneach blade carries an extension piece 29 which may take the form of anelongated wire loop, the extremities of the loop being bent inwardly atright angles and flattened slightly to a substantially dove-tail shape.The blade is formed with two holes 21 of substantially key-holeformation, the walls of the narrow part of each hole being under-cut toaccommodate the dove-tail parts 22 so that they will maintain theirposition therein. The extensions 20 are held in postion on the blade bymeans of securing screws 23 passing through a clamping washer 24, theclamping washer and screw 23 lying on the exterior of the upper.

The greater part of the extensions 20 lie within the upper, but theyproject therefrom at the points 25 indicated in Figure l. The loopextremities are connected together by a threaded tie bolt 26 carrying atone end 20 together and the blades and their associated pads intoindirect gripping engagement with the heel.

The greaterpart of the-support will be hidden from view as it: is.accommodatedbetween the upper and the lining. 'OnlYthe plates dandtheheel adjustment member 26 and clamping washers 24 project from the upperand in; no way detract from the otherwise smooth flush appearance of theboot. if necessary the leather or other internal support dumay. be cutaway to permit or freer inward movement of the parts. The pads may besecured to the blades in any. suitable way as, for example,

by means of. adhesive tape 27 diagrammatically illus.-. With theconstruction. described.

trated. in Figure 3. above the support may alternatively be incorporatedinto the boot during. manufacture or may be introduced at a later; date.This can be done merely by cutting the stitches. at-the mouth of theboot connecting together. the upper; and lining and, introducing theblades. and their associated pads downwardly into their operativeposition. The upper is cut a minimum amount. The cuts are hidden fromview by the plates 6. The plates 6 in addition serve to clamp the outparts of the upper and prevent any possibility of the upper splittingwhen the; boot; is worn.

Figures 6 to illustrate a modified construction which is somewhatsimpler than that previously described, butwhich does notincorporate theadditionaladjustnient at the; back of the heel. It is intended that theblades; 1- shall'initially be bent so that they in themselves tit snuglyon; opposite sides of the foot. The blades are moved bodily inwardlywith the simple form of adjustment employed.

The blades in this construction are of substantially T shape, althoughthey may be of a shapemoreclosely simulating a. Y. The normallyhorizontal limb of the T isdownwardly and forwardly inclined. so that itfits snugly beneath the ankle bone. The third limb 28 of the T projectsdownwardly and is located. in a recess 29:

formed in the outer surface of the heel 30.

It is intended that the blades shall be pivoted inwardly about their.lowermost edges and so the recesses 29 are of. the wedge or taperingcrosssectional shape shown in Figure 7. The blades 1 and theirassociated pads 2 are drawn bodily inwards towards each other by meansof twotierqds 17 which are arranged in a somewhat similar inclinedmanner to those shown in the previously described arrangement. The tierods in this case, however, passthrough the heel as distinct. fromtheshank.

One end-of each tie rod is bent over into the form of a hook 16 which inthis case passes around a U-shaped lug 31*carried by the blade. Theopposite end of the tie rod passes through a hole drilled in theopposite blade and being'screw-threaded toreceivean adjusting nut 18.Tightening of the adjusting nuts 18 will draw the two blades and theirassociated padsbodily towards one anotherinto good indirect grippingengagement with the foot to provide the required support. Each adjustingnut ls'takes the form of a shouldered nipple, The tapering head of thisnipple has a clearance 4 in a countersunk hole in the blade (seeparticularly Figure 8), thereby to a certain extent retaining the bladein position without restrictingits freedom to swing. The shoulder 45 onthe adjusting nut engages a washer 46 through which the shank of the nutpasses. The washer becomes a reaction point for the blade in the form,for example, of a rivet 47 whichv is soldered in position in the washer.The shank of the rivet is located in a hole boredin the heel.

Referring to Figures 9 and 10 it will be seen thatif thev rivet islocated centrally as in Figure 9 the efiective lengths of arms A and Bwill be equal. But if the rivet is located other. than centrally, as inFigure l0, arms A and B will be unequal thus providing a degree ofunbalanced pressure on the foot if required. It will be seen also thatthe washer serves to spread the reaction load from therivet head over areasonablearea of leather.

As the upper must necessarily be cut to allow thedownwardly dependinglimbs of the blades to project, the cut is covered by means of plates 6which are generally similar to the plates 6 described in connection withthe previous arrangement. The plates 6 are held in position bymeansof-scre-Ws 11 which enter threaded holes formed in bosses 11acarried by the blades. The blades 6 are provided with additional holes32, for the passagev of the adjusting nuts 18 thus exposing the nuts foradjustmentpurposes.

In the further modified construction shown in Figures 11 to 12 theadjusting mechansm is more apparent as it is mainly disposed on theexterior of the boot. The blades in this case are moved bodily inwardlyby two adjustments, i. e., an adjustment lying beneath the shank and by.a heel adjustment on the backof heel.

In this construction the adjustment takes the form of two levers 33arranged on opposite sides of the bootand on opposite sides of theshank. The levers each carry a fulcrum pin 34 mounted for angularmovement in a pair of eye members 35 which are driven through the shank.The lower ends of the levers are bent inwardly substantially at rightangles as at 36 and are drilled and tapped to receive adjusting screws37 which. bear on the under surface ofthe shank.

The levers 33 carry at their upper ends an upwardly. inclined extension38 which is connected withits. asso ciated blade at the point 39.Thepartsare connected: by means of a securing screw, a clamping washer40 and.

42 projects through the holes to the exterior of the upper and extendsinto a position at the rear of the heel where the parts 42 can be drawn.together with the assistance of a suitable form of heel adjustment.adjustment may be similar to that described in connection with Figures 1to 5. The adjustment in any case pref erably includes an adjusting nut43. When tightened this nut serves to bring the parts 42 and theirassociated blades nearer together to produce the required grippingeffect on the heel A It will be appreciated that the constructiondisclosed by Figures 11 and 12, although not. being so neat asthe twoconstructions previously described has the merit of simplicity. It canbe easily applied to an existing boot with a minimum of alteration. Theblades are adjustable individually'by individual tightening up of theadjusting screws 37 beneath the shank.

It is preferred to construct the bladesfrom steel the pads being;composed ofa comparatively soft material such as, for example, spongerubber.

Although shown-as applied to a skating boot the padlike supports may beused with any other type-pf foot wear where heel support is important.

What I claim:

1. An adjustable heel support fora shoe, comprising two supports formounting in the shoe tolie on opposite sides.- of the foot. inthevicinity-of-the ankle, each of said supports having a body includinga basepartan.

chored' to. a part of the shoe and a. supporting part extending.upwardly from the-base part adjacentvto the upper into ankle engagingposition, and-individual adjusting meansoperable from theexterior of theshoe: for drawing each support intogrippingengagementwith the foot toSuch I there being two external adjusting devices associated with thesupports at their front ends for drawing the supports individually intogripping engagement with the foot at their forward ends and an externalcommon adjustment at the heel for drawing both supports into grippingengagement with the heel at their rearward ends.

3. An adjustable heel support as claimed in claim 1, wherein thesupports are of substantially T shape and are each movable bodily intogripping engagement with the foot by external individual adjusting meanslocated adjacent the shank and heel of the shoe.

4. A shoe equipped with ankle-supporting means, com* prising a pair ofsupports one at each side of the shoe having a body including a basepart anchored to the heel of the shoe and a supporting part extendingupwardly from the base part adjacent to the upper into ankle en gagingposition, the body being held relatively fixedly at the base part butcapable of inward movement at the sup porting part, screw adjustingmeans for each support engaging the supporting part and extendingdiagonally through the heel to the opposite side thereof to an adjustingelement exposed on the heel of the shoe whereby the supporting part maybe adjusted inwardly or out wardly relatively to the ankle from outsidethe shoe while the shoe is being worn.

5. A shoe equipped with ankle supporting means, com prising, a supportat the side of the shoe having a body including a base part anchored tothe sole of the shoe and a supporting part extending upwardly from thebase part adjacent to the upper into ankle engaging position, the bodybeing held relatively fixedly at the base part but capable of inwardmovement at the supporting part, screw adjusting means for said supportengaging the body above the supporting part and extending diagonally tothe heel of the shoe to the opposite side thereof to an adjustingelement exposed on the heel of the shoe whereby the supporting part maybe adjusted inwardly or outwardly relative to the ankle from outside theshoe while the shoe is being worn.

6. A shoe according to claim 1, in which each support body is a plate onwhich the base part is anchored to the heel of the shoe, and theadjusting means includes a shaft extending through the heel of the shoeto engage said plate above its point of anchoring, the opposite end ofsaid shaft projecting from the heel being provided with a threaded endand a nut on said end and means on the heel for engaging said nutwhereby adjustment of the nut moves the shaft relative to the nut and somoves the plate toward or away from the ankle.

7. A shoe according to claim 1, in which the body of each of saidsupports is a plate of which the base part is anchored to the heel ofthe shoe and said adjusting .means includes a pair of shafts each ofwhich extends diagonally through the heel of the shoe from one plate tothe other, one end of each shaft being connected to the plate above thepoint of anchoring, the other end of each shaft projecting from the heeland being threaded to receive an adjusting nut, the adjusting nutprojecting through an opening in the adjacent portion of the supportingmember at that side of the shoe, adjustment of the adjusting nut movingits plate inwards or outwards.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,350,944 Severy Aug. 24, 1920

